Wing clipping

[chickadde]

Is it okay to clip wings from chicks that are five weeks old? I guess I'm just afraid they will fly away if they get scared or startled by something. Just wondering if its best to wait until they are fully grown or does it matter? Thanks for your help.

 

[CrazyChickensEverwhere]

I dont know. I dont think a 5 week old can fly to hight yet. I would wait tell laying age to clip.

 

[Ms.Frizzle]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=502733

This is a thread that talks about it in reference to young geese. Five weeks sounds a little old to me, but i've never done it. Maybe you want to consider just trimming the pinion feathers, rather then the whole wing.

 

[chickadde]

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[newgoosegirl]

Quote:
...Our chickens are barely 4 months, and yet they've been trying to roost on the 6-foot high fence since they started going out.

 

[CrazyChickensEverwhere]

Quote:
...Our chickens are barely 4 months, and yet they've been trying to roost on the 6-foot high fence since they started going out.

Wow really.. mine are 6 weeks and they dont go high at all. I guess you can clip there wings. the first 10 flight feathers.

 

[RaZ]

Maybe it depends on the breed that you have. I clipped the wings on mine at about 5 weeks because they were getting over a 4 foot fence with ease.

 

[CowgirlPenny]

I clip my older ones. The fence is covered by netting to prevent them from flying out, but they could easily fly up to the top (thinking they were going to fly out) and getting stuck in the netting. Clip the first 10 flight feathers on ONE wing, not both.

 

[aceintoledo]

....so exactly how high can these chickens fly?

 

[CowgirlPenny]

Quote:
My oldest are 12 weeks and in a good wind they can fly on top of their coop. It's 6 feet tall.